A splashing start is being given to youngsters by a North East charity.

City youths got to experience raft-building and racing first-hand on an access course for the charity Fairbridge.

A lot of fun getting wet and cold on Killingworth Lake, North Tyneside, introduced a group of eight to the programme which is designed to build up the skills of inner city young people.

The access course is a week-long introduction to the charity, which helps youths, aged 13 to 25, from across Tyneside to stop themselves from repeating past mistakes.

It involves those who may have dropped out of school, become involved with drugs or who may have experienced problems with poverty, crime or family break-up.

Jonathan Pearson, 16, of Ashington, came to the course after he was excluded from school. He said: "I didn't have to come here, but I had nothing better to do.

"I have never had so much fun in my life. I've changed a lot. Without this I'd most likely be in a young offenders' institution.

"I want to be in Florida, working for Disney. That's my dream."

Paddy Thorpe, 18, once a heroin user, was referred to the access course after he breached bail conditions following a stabbing.

He said: "When my case came to court I almost went to prison. But because of what I had done here, the judge put me on probation for two years.

"This is a good place to come, it's dead friendly and I've learned to be a part of a team.

"I did a healthy eating programme and now I'd like to be a youth worker or a chef."

Fairbridge works in 43 of the 88 wards that make up the country's most deprived areas. It works to find 13 to 25-year-olds at risk, who have given up education, training and employment, and develops their personal skills.

Lynsey Black, 17, said: "I came to Fairbridge because I cannot read or write properly. I want to improve on that.

"I never went to school much - I was picked on because I couldn't read or spell."